A joint-venture agreement to build the expertise in the local production of milk has been formalised in Kumasi.

This led to the signing of a pact between the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Peak Investment Capital (PIC), a Social Enterprise and Investment Fund committed to capacity-building.

The company, working in collaboration with some international organisations, would assist the University, Ghana’s premier science and technology institution, to boost its research capacity to engender innovations and development of new products within the diary production line.

Through the partnership, the KNUST Diary Research Station would be strengthened and expected to develop new technologies to benefit the local market and also generate the needed funds for the Diary and Cattle Beef Section to run its activities.

Mr Kobbina Awuah, Chief Executive Officer of PIC, in a speech read on his behalf, said the intention is to revamp the local production of milk for socio-economic growth.

The joint-venture partnership, he said, is anticipated to create 200 jobs more than a two-year period.

The KNUST Diary and Cattle Beef Section had over the years worked assiduously to develop diary-related products, especially fresh milk, and also worked with farmers to augment diary production in general.

Mr Awuah noted that the partnership would help leverage on the University’s extensive technical expertise to continuously innovate and develop a sustainable diary production system.

Professor William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, said they would be reviewing and adopt best practices in the diary production line for increased production.

He lauded the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources CANR for leading the way for innovativeness, saying the College had in recent time upped its efforts at deepening academia-industry relationship.

The Vice-Chancellor said he is optimistic the partnership has the potential to transform the local production of milk, urging the research team to be focused on the task ahead.

He entreated the private sector to come on board with the necessary investment to help develop new technologies to sustain the nation’s growth.